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About the Book

Emphasising the contradictions of fandom, Matt Hills outlines how media fans have been conceptualised in cultural theory. Drawing on case studies of specific fan groups, from Elvis impersonators to X-Philes and Trekkers, Hills discusses a range of approaches to fandom, from the Frankfurt School to psychoanalytic readings, and asks whether the development of new media creates the possibility of new forms of fandom. Fan Cultures also explores the notion of "fan cults" or followings, considering how media fans perform the distinctions of 'cult' status.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements. Preface: On the Lack of Singular Definitions. Part I: Approaching Fan Cultures 1. Fan Cultures Between Consumerism and 'Resistance' 2. Fan Cultures Between Community and Hierarchy 3. Fan Cultures Between 'Knowledge' and 'Justification' 4. Fan Cultures Between 'Fantasy' and 'Reality' Part II: Theorising Cult Media 5. Fandom Between Cult and Culture 6. Media Cults - Between the 'Textual' and the 'Extratextual' 7. Cult Geographies - Between the 'Textual' and the 'Spacial' 8. Cult Bodies - Between the 'Self' and the 'Other' Conclusion: New Media, New Fandoms, New Theoretical Approaches? Bibliography. Index

About the Author

Matt Hills is a Lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies at Cardiff University.